ILL-inois: Disgraced ex-congressman Mel Reynolds arrested in Zimbabwe

Mel Reynolds

Not mentioned in this story is that when Mel Reynolds defeated vile racist Gus Savage in the 1992 Democratic primary for the 2nd congressional district in Illinois, he was hailed as hero and a reformer. After Reynolds resigned his seat three years later, his seat was filled by Jesse Jackson Jr., who now sits in a federal prison cell.

From CBS Chicago:

Former Congressman Mel Reynolds – who spent time in prison for statutory rape and child pornography charges – has been arrested in Zimbabwe, suspected of making pornographic videos.

WBBM Newsradio’s Regine Schlesinger reports Reynolds, 62, was arrested at his hotel in the capital of Harare, and was being investigated for alleged possession of pornography and a violation of immigration laws.

Zimbabwe's largest newspaper, the state-controlled Herald, quoted a former Reynods aide as saying Reynolds had shot pornographic videos with models and other women in his hotel room.

Another source told the paper Reynolds had filmed more than 100 videos, and shot 2,000 nude pictures of at least 10 different women on various occasions. The paper also said he owes more than $24,000 in unpaid hotel bills.

Reynolds' prison sentence was commuted by Bill Clinton in 2001, part of the binge of pardons and commutations in the last hours of his presidency known as Pardongate.

Zimbabwe is a dictatorship and it is not the type of place you'd want to find yourself in any kind of trouble, let alone the mess Reynolds seems to have created for himself. Again.

Will Clinton save him again?

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